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Ocampo said the court’s decision to convict them is a “miscarriage of justice.”

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Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div></div>MANILA — Supporters of former Bayan Muna Representative Satur Ocampo and ACT Teachers Representative France Castro gathered in Quezon City on Saturday to express support after a Tagum court found them and 13 others guilty of child abuse.  The case stemmed from an incident in 2018 wherein Ocampo, Castro and others rescued students who were allegedly victims of harassment by paramilitary and military forces in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.  Attorney Maneeka Asistol of the National Union of People’s Lawyer called the case and the decision as one laced with “hearsays, flip flops, and inconsistencies”.  <div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/15/-court-convicts-rep-castro-satur-ocampo-in-child-abuse-case-1110" id="isPasted">Court convicts Rep. Castro, Satur Ocampo in child abuse case</a></div> “Ang teorya nila ay sila ang nagpababa sa mga menor de edad. Delikado ang lugar dahil area of encounters daw sa pagitan ng mga NPA at gobyerno. Yung theory na yun ay sinangayunan ng korte sa kaniyang decision,” she said. (Their theory was that they (Ocampo and Castro) forced minors to walk through dangerous areas that are areas of encounter between the NPA and government forces. That theory was favored by the court.)The case was also called absurd by Dr. Mela Magay of the Institute of Asian Studies for Church and Culture. “Masyadong absurd ang kaso in the first place. Itong child abuse na kaso ay patunay na yung sinasabi na gumagana ang justice system dito ay hindi totoo. Maganda siguro na ibalik natin ang diskurso na ano ba talaga ang katarungan,” Magay said. (This case is absurd. This child abuse case proves that what they say about the justice system in the country is working is not true. It would be good to shift the discourse back to what justice should really be.)<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/16/castro-ocampo-to-appeal-rtc-ruling-before-ca-2201" id="isPasted">Castro, Ocampo to appeal RTC ruling before CA</a></div>Supporters signed a collective statement expressing their confidence in the integrity of Ocampo, Castro, and teachers of the Salugpungan schools. “It is unthinkable for them to be considered criminals for trying to save children from imminent harm. The authorities should correct this grave injustice. We call on the courts to overturn the ruling against the Talaingod 13,” the statement read. For Castro, the issue is not about her, Ocampo and others involved in the case but rather the lack of social services and rights of indigenous peoples. “This is really a form of harassment and political persecution.”“Hindi kaming dalawa ang issue. Sana tugunan sana ng gobyerno ang matagal nang hinaing ng mga Lumad sa Mindanao ang pangaagaw sa kanilang mga lupa, pagkait sa edukasyon,” she said. (We (Castro and Ocampo) are not the issue. We hope the government would instead would listen to the voices of the Lumad’s in Mindanao about how their lands are being taken as well as their rights to education.)<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/15/ph-court-convicts-act-teachers-rep-castro-satur-ocampo-others-in-child-abuse-case-2136" id="isPasted">PH court convicts ACT Teachers Rep. Castro, Satur Ocampo, others in child abuse case </a></div>Castro added that their case should serve as an eye-opener that it is time to help indigenous peoples particularly the Lumads in fighting for their rights and self-determination. Ocampo reiterated that the court’s decision to convict them is a “miscarriage of justice.” “I cannot accept that I am a convict. Sinikap nila akong diinan,” he said.  Asistol said they have already filed a notice of appeal at the Tagum Regional Trial Court. Case records have already been sent to satellite offices of the Court of Appeals (CA) in Cagayan de Oro. They are awaiting for the case to be raffled off and the court’s orders to file a memorandum of appeal where they will point out reasons why the decision must be reversed.

Ocampo said the court’s decision to convict them is a “miscarriage of justice.”

Ocampo, Castro receive support from indigenous groups after court verdict

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Ocampo, Castro receive support from indigenous groups after court verdict

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 03, 2024 04:42 PM PHT

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Satur Ocampo

France Castro

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